continual

[kuhn-tin-yoo-uhl]

adjective

1. of regular or frequent recurrence; often repeated; very frequent.

   continual bus departures.

   Synonyms: repetitious, repetitive, recurrent, successive

2. happening without interruption or cessation; continuous in time.

   Synonyms: unending, permanent, unbroken, unremitting, uninterrupted, incessant, ceaseless, unceasing

continual

/ kənˈtɪnjʊəl /

adjective

1. recurring frequently, esp at regular intervals

2. occurring without interruption; continuous in time

Confusables Note

Although usage guides generally advise that continual may be used only to mean “intermittent” and continuous only to mean “uninterrupted,” the words are used interchangeably in all kinds of speech and writing with no distinction in meaning: The president's life is under continual (or continuous ) scrutiny. Continuous (or continual ) bursts of laughter punctuated her testimony. The adverbs continually and continuously are also used interchangeably. To make a clear distinction between what occurs at short intervals and what proceeds without interruption, writers sometimes use the contrasting terms intermittent ( intermittent losses of power during the storm ) and uninterrupted ( uninterrupted reception during the storm ) or similar expressions. Continuous is not interchangeable with continual in the sense of spatial relationship: a continuous (not continual ) series of passages.

Other Word Forms

• continuality noun
• continualness noun
• quasi-continual adjective
• quasi-continually adverb
• uncontinual adjective
• uncontinually adverb
• continually adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of continual¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Medieval Latin continuālis, equivalent to Latin continu(us) “uninterrupted” + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English continuel, from Middle French, from Latin, as above; continuous, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of continual¹

C14: from Old French continuel, from Latin continuus uninterrupted, from continēre to hold together, _contain

Example Sentences

DNA in our cells faces continual harm from sunlight, chemicals, radiation and even the normal processes that keep the body functioning.

Read more on Science Daily

Of all the innovations and technical advancements that have made the discovery and excavation of shipwrecks increasingly possible, none has been more important than the invention and continual development of side-scan sonar.

Read more on Literature

It is likely to be a continual fixture of volatility for companies—and markets.

Read more on Barron's

“It’s a one-way ratchet toward the gradual but continual accretion of power in the executive branch and away from the people’s elected representatives,” Gorsuch said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The president’s a one-way ratchet toward the gradual but continual accretion of power in the executive branch and away from the people’s elected representatives,” he said.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• around-the-clock 
• ceaseless 
• continuous 
• endless 
• enduring 
• frequent 
• interminable 
• perpetual 
• persistent 
• recurrent 
• relentless 
• repeated 
• steady 
• unbroken 
• unceasing 
• unending 
• uninterrupted 
• unremitting